Eating Disorders in Athletes (Part III): It Happens to the Best of Them
Even professional athletes struggle as a result of believing lighter is better, especially in situations where the concept is enforced by their coaches. Mary Cain is a former professional distance runner who was described as “the fastest girl in America,” (Cain, 2019) and was projected to win a gold medal at the Olympics. She ran for Alberto Salazar of the Oregon Track Club. Salazar developed a “win-at-all-costs culture,” which included his belief that Cain had to get “thinner, and thinner, and thinner,” (Cain, 2019). She eventually broke five bones, lost her period for three years, and contemplated suicide. Another one of his former athletes, Kara Goucher, revealed she used to hide wrappers of energy bars she ate after her coaches gave her a very small meal (Cain, 2019). Salazar’s coaching style drove Cain to be the poster child of the Female Athlete Triad, while Goucher found herself trying to survive by eating in secret. In a third case, Amy Yoder Begley was kicked off of Salazar’s team after placing sixth in a championship race, but mostly for having “the biggest butt on the start line,” (Futterman, 2019). Yoder Begley goes on to explain that Salazar would attribute her good workouts to her leanness, and her bad workouts to being overweight (Futterman, 2019). This perpetuates the problem of coaches enforcing “lighter is better” because Salazar was judging his athletes’ success and failures based on their weight.
“Salazar developed a “win-at-all-costs culture,” which included his belief that I had to get “thinner, and thinner, and thinner.” - Mary Cain
This leaves athletes with the assumption that the only way to win is to be light. Cain’s article also quotes Goucher, “When you’re training in a program like this, you’re constantly reminded how lucky you are to be there, how anyone would want to be there, and it’s this weird feeling of, ‘Well, then, I can’t leave it. Who am I without it? When someone proposes something you don’t want to do, whether it’s weight loss or drugs, you wonder, ‘Is this what it takes? Maybe it is, and I don’t want to have regrets.’ Your careers are so short. You are desperate. You want to capitalize on your career, but you’re not sure at what cost,” (Cain, 2019). Goucher’s statement reveals the mentally abusive and exhausting battle of trying to achieve success, no matter what, while pleasing a coach and trying to stay healthy. At some point, something has to give. All too often, the athlete’s health is sacrificed because of the demand to obey and the desire to please their authority, coupled with the pressure to succeed.
Although countless professional and amateur athletes experience the detriments of believing lighter is better, Cain is an example of someone who has been able to rise above her difficulties and produce a greater good for the athletic community. Her bravery to share her story allowed many other athletes to step forward and share their battles with eating disorders, coaching abuse, weight management, etc. Cain also completed a full season of running completely healthy, and became sponsored by a running company (Minsberg, 2020). She has rediscovered her drive to compete and win, but this time as a multi-dimensional person who is not just a runner (Minsberg, 2020). Cain is an example to all struggling athletes that they can achieve success under circumstances that do not pressure them to sacrifice their physical and mental health. She believes she can be a “world-class athlete and make a team,” (Minsberg, 2020) referring to the Olympic or World Championship level. Cain is living proof that previously damaged athletes can recognize what they are doing to their bodies and be brave enough to fight back against the detrimental practices and values thrust upon them. Thus, a whole new world of success may be on the other side; this time, they will not have to sacrifice themselves for it.
For support and guidance throughout your college career as an LSU student-athlete, reach out to your resources. It’s often the hardest step, but the most rewarding.
Sport Performance & Counseling: GeauxBeWell@lsu.edu
References
Cain, M. (2019, November 07). I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike. The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from https://www.nytimes. com/ 2019/11/07/opinion/nike-running-mary-cain.html?action=click
Futterman, M. (2019, November 14). Another of Alberto Salazar's Runners Says He Ridiculed Her Body for Years. The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/14/sports/olympics/alberto-salazar-nike.html?action=click
Minsberg, T. (2020, May 12). Mary Cain Takes the Next Step. The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/ 2020/05/12/ sports/mary-cain-sponsor.html
